ZIMSEC · O Level · Syllabus 4023
Physics
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Form 3 6 topics
- Measurement and units Physics depends on accurate measurement in SI units.
- Motion Near the Earth all objects fall with acceleration g ≈ 10 m/s² if air resistance is ignored. With air resistance, a falling object reaches terminal velocity when air resistance equals weight.
- Forces and Newton's laws A force is a push or pull measured in newtons (N). Forces can change an object's speed, direction or shape.
- Moments, pressure and stability Moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot (N m).
- Energy, work and power Energy is measured in joules (J). It cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred (conservation of energy).
- Thermal physics Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles. Thermometers use a property that changes with temperature (e.g. expansion of mercury or alcohol).
Form 4 4 topicsExam year
- Waves, sound and light Waves transfer energy without transferring matter.
- Electricity: circuits and Ohm's law P = VI = I²R. Energy = Pt. Electricity is sold in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- Magnetism and electromagnetism Like poles repel; unlike poles attract. Field lines go from north to south. Iron is easily magnetised and demagnetised (soft); steel keeps its magnetism (hard), so it is used for permanent magnets.
- Atomic physics and radioactivity Protons and neutrons in the nucleus; electrons outside. Some nuclei are unstable and decay, giving out radiation randomly.